The ARC Party

<p>Recently, Sean O’Connor of Macabre Daily’s series Paper Cuts asked me to do an interview, and that’s what you get to hear/see today! Sean has been highlighting some of the folks in the horror community who do the work of promoting authors and publishers. So if you’re looking for other folks like me, if you want to expand your horizons of book-loving podcasters and influencers, I’d suggest checking out what Sean has going on over at Macabre Daily. </p><p>Also, check out the article that Sean wrote to go with this interview:</p><p>I am presenting here the same interview, for folks who may not have known about it. In it, Sean asks me about my origins, my methods, some of my favorite moments, and more. It was fun, and I hope a little peek at the life if the podcaster is interesting for you! I know it was a unique experience - to not be the one asking the questions. </p><p>For folks who prefer the YouTube:</p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.thearcparty.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Mitch Hull is a brewer and reader who loves books and reading, and is meticulous when he creates a thing. Chris Panatier has a unique and eye-catching artistic style that compliments the stories that Mitch finds. </p><p>Mitch is also kind of insane, and will get a wild hair to do something nobody’s ever done before… like using hand-marbled paper as dust jackets on his high quality chapbooks. Or hand-sewing the spines of his lettered editions using thread he painstakingly chose. </p><p>Or making book slipcases out of turpentine cans</p><p>To clarify - this is just the presentation for the Advanced Reader Copies - this isn’t what the final product will look like. I’ve seen the final cover and it’s DIVINE. </p><p>Rapture has a sort of IYKYK reputation - those of us in the know are raving. And they’re only getting started! While Mitch did say that he’s already lined up about ten authors for 2026, DAYTIDE is an ambitious move into high-quality collectible novel publication. I’m excited to see what the future holds from this ambitious duo. </p><p>I hope you enjoy this conversation, and that you go to Rapture’s website to get your copy of some of these awesome limited editions. And pre-order DAYTIDE while you can!</p><p>For the folks who prefer YouTube: </p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.thearcparty.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Waaaaaay back in early 2023, Adam Godfrey’s novella NARCISSUS landed on my radar. I don’t know how or why, but it caught my attention and I was hooked by that evocative cover image. Then by then hook of the story. So I read it and I loved it! Then I had to have Adam on and he talked about how great his experience was working with Shortwave Publishing.</p><p>So when Chloe Spencer’s novella MEWING caught my attention, I was ready to give it a chance on the strength of my previous experience with Adam’s book. Then I loved it and had her on! So when the next caught my attention… you can see where this is going.</p><p>So for a couple years I have had a very happy relationship with Shortwave. I’m on their reviewer list, I bought their subscription for 2025, and I’ve talked to like eight of their authors. </p><p>What made me finally break and ask Alan Lastufka to join me for a conversation was the very exciting news that Shortwave has signed a distribution deal with Simon & Schuster, which will be a game changer for them. Think of it - the Killer VHS series is gonna be on shelves at Barnes & Noble!</p><p>What’s great for listeners is that Alan shared a whole mess of details about his plans for what his existing titles will do in the future. He shared the fate of the chapbook series. He talked about specific revisions/reissues that are so exciting!</p><p>It’s a great story of how he got where he is today, and it’s packed with details about goodies coming in the future. What more could you ask for? Well, whatever it is, I’m sure Alan is working on it and it’s gonna be cooler than you would expect.</p><p>For the folks who prefer to watch on YouTube:</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.thearcparty.com/subscribe</a>

<p>What could happen if you whistle in the dark? Henry Hotard might just find out in The Whistler - the upcoming novel by Nick Medina.</p><p>I met Nick back when Paul Tremblay was in town promoting Horror Movie. Paul had a great event, and then an amazing group of folks went out for dinner afterward. Along with Paul and myself, Becky Spratford, Ananda Lima, Gus Moreno, Nick Medina, John Milas, and a few others had a great time. </p><p>Anyway that’s when I met Nick, who I found to be a great dude, but I hadn’t read any of his books yet. I’d heard a lot of praise for Sisters of the Lost Nation and Indian Burial Ground, but hadn’t had a chance to read them. So I knew when the next book came out, I wasn’t missing another opportunity. And I’m so glad! This book was great and I’m thankful I got a chance to talk to Nick about it. </p><p>There’s a central theme of Native (and as research would show - many many cultures share this belief) superstition that you should not whistle at night - and exploring what could happen if you do. There’s also a sort of fable wound throughout about a boy who lies and does bad things, who ends up having an evil face on the other side of his head. And finally, the book very thoughtfully explores what I can be like for a person who has been in a car accident and finds themself paralyzed. </p><p>I thought Nick told an entertaining story that’s full of heart, is wildly relatable, and he did one of my favorite things - he included some tendrils into his other books by crossing over characters, addressing incomplete threads from other stories, and hopefully laid the groundwork for some of The Whistler to make its way into future books. </p><p>All of that is to say, it’s great, you should preorder it, and get his other books if you haven’t yet. Nick is a great talent and I can’t wait to see what he has for us in the future.</p><p>In the conversation one of the resources that Nick recommends is a book called American Indian Myths and Legends, you can order a copy through my Bookshop affiliate page <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/a/90265/9780394740188">here</a> </p><p></p><p> </p><p>For the folks who prefer YouTube: </p><p><p>The ARC Party is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.thearcparty.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Annie Neugebauer’s novella showed up as part of my quarterly box from <a target="_blank" href="https://shortwavepublishing.com">Shortwave Publishing</a> not so long ago, and the back cover copy just grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. </p><p><p>Ten people head out on a backpacking trip, but the first night eleven set up camp. Everyone remembers everyone else. Who is the extra?</p></p><p>Simple, compelling, chilling. Well if that kind of hook brings you in, you’re going to love this story. What would you do in the wilderness when you can’t trust reality? Do you freak out and leave? Do you keep it cool? What if, all of your ideas are thwarted? This story keeps you moving and guessing and most of all worrying! It’s an easy and quick read that will stick with you after you’re done. </p><p>And what could be better than one creepy compelling book, you ask? Three of course. That's right, THE EXTRA kicks off The Outsider Sequence, a trilogy of books in which things aren’t quite as they seem. THE OTHER drops June of 2026, and THE SPARE in March of 2027. </p><p>Also, keep your peepers open for Annie’s short story collection early 2026, coming from Bad Hand Books - <a target="_blank" href="https://badhandbooks.com/preorders/you-have-to-let-them-bleed-paperback-with-signed-bookplate">YOU HAVE TO LET THEM BLEED</a>. </p><p>For those who prefer YouTube:</p><p><p>The ARC Party is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.thearcparty.com/subscribe</a>